A Day with our Friend, Mai

Sunday, September 9, 9:00 a.m., Bangkok

We just wanted to catch you up on our excursion yesterday before our first meeting with Beth and Jack later this morning (only 90 minutes and counting!)

Our friend, Mai, picked us up in her father's van (he provided a chauffeur, too!) and took us to a place just north of Bangkok, on the Chaow Praya River. We parked in the compound of a Buddhist temple, called a "wat," and walked down to the river. There, Mai hired a longboat taxi (Mitch was impressed by the huge truck motor and looooong prop shaft) to take us to the island of Ko Kret. As we motored along we saw such extremes of luxury and poverty--sometimes right next to each other.

Our first stop was to a muslim community that had been helped by one of the queen's humanitarian projects--they had been taught how to make silk flowers, candles, baskets etc. by hand in order to make a living. Mitch made a friend here, charmed a baby girl who looked to be about 18 months old. She was so cute when she did her little bow with hands clasped! Mai insisted we try some of the local food--some kind of fried fish balls with a sweet sauce, cucumber and fried Thai basil--yumm!

The next stop was like a little restaurant and snack shop. There we tried coconut ice cream and sampled some snacks. We finally got off again at a village and walked along the waterfront past vendors with so many different foods and items to purchase. Mai kept wanting us to try all the traditional Thai foods and beverages, so by the time we were done, we weren't even hungry for lunch.

The weather was HOT the whole day--felt like we were in a sauna! So it was a relief to be back in the air-conditioned van. On the way back to the hotel, we made a stop at a fabric store where Margaret picked out some fabric for the kids' quilts. We said goodbye to Mai and the driver, Monton, with promises to try to contact her again this week.

The heat was so exhausting that we decided a swim in the pool would be refreshing. It looked like rain was in the forecast, so we hustled down and enjoyed a relaxing half hour or so. (It never did rain, though.)

We were finally starting to feel hungry again and decided to try out the Pad Thai at a food court just around the corner. On the way, we left a message for the other Holt family, the Baurs, who were scheduled to arrive sometime Saturday. By the time we returned, they had called and wanted to meet us in the lobby.

Sarah and TJ ended up taking the same elevator with us and we connected right away. They are from Missouri and are also Christians, and they are adopting an 18-month-old boy whom they are naming Miles. We chatted for an hour or so and left them to their computer so they could make contact with their two kids back home.

Well, next time we write it will be about Beth and Jack! We can hardly wait!